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Sowing the Seeds of Change Outlook 2008

For the past several years, we at CALF News have asked feedyard managers to share their outlook on the industry’s future. Never in those years did there seem to be more issues affecting the industry as there are now. As one of our contributing managers said, “My crystal ball is a bit cloudy this year.” With questions about the Farm Bill, corn prices, the lack of commercial feeding customers and feeder cattle prices, there are enough questions to go around. A good friend down south said it well, “I feel like a guy who took a duck to a cock fight.” Things have a way of working themselves out. Thanks to Bill Rhea, Bill Brandt and Andrew Murphy for their time and thoughts. Bill Rhea Rhea Cattle Company, Arlington, Neb. Predicting what 2008 will bring to the cattle industry is complicated. Today, farmers and beef producers are on the verge of making truly independent business decisions without having to be at the mercy of government subsidies. More and more, agribusiness is going international with the value of the U.S. dollar, global markets and trade barriers factoring into even the smallest farms in the United States.  Read more...